May and the new RPG Blog Carnival begins, looking back at April

Tomorrow brings the first day of May.  May was Maius in Latin and was named after the Greek goddess Maia, it is thought, who is associated with Spring.  The theme for this May will have little to do with that, as the Sea of Stars is hosting the RPG Blog Carnival and this month’s theme is:

Occult Mysteries and Magic.

I hope you will join us for exploring that intriguing theme.

Now, looking back over April, 2017, it was a quiet month due to things going on in my life outside of gaming, but we still saw the following posts here :

Tuesday Magic Item – Sword of the Dashing King

“So, we side with the rebels, lead by a former peasant and soldier, or we side with the corrupt governor in suppressing them?” asked Voddick, looking out over the gathering sides.

“Or we can just leave,” said Gollaon.

Voddick snorted.  “As though you would abandon a heroic underdog.”

“And just as you know if we flee we will be chased by both sides no matter who wins.”

Voddick sighed and loosened his sword in its scabbard and picked up his crossbow.  “Best get a good place before it comes to blows.  You know I hate arriving late at a battle.”

“Right you are.”

Sword of the Dashing King

This long sword is a practical weapon, unadorned and having seen hard use, but the grip is usually wrapped in bright leather with a colorful tassel once it has been used for a while.  Unless it is being used, there is very little about it to indicate its legendary nature and if found after having been long lost even the colorful wrapping and tassel are likely to have faded.

Review – Three Sorcerous Arts for D&D 5E

Three Sorcerous Arts: Three Sorcerous Origins for Firth Edition provides some excellent options for sorcerers in 5E and expands the range of choices for that class.  Everything seems well balanced and if you like playing sorcerer, or using them as rivals to the players, give this product a look.

Three Sorcerous Arts: Three Sorcerous Origins for Firth Edition for Firth Edition by Brandes Stoddard and published by Tribality Publishing is just that, three new Sorcerers’ origins (or bloodlines as they would have been called in some other sources) and some supporting magic items.  The layout is clear with thematic color photographs for illustrations.

Tuesday Magic Item – Parthenogenesis Amulet

Voddick studied the paintings along the hall.  “The styles change but the subjects are obviously related.  A strong bloodline.”

“Indeed, the line passes from mother to daughter and has for centuries, a Matron always rules here,” said  Gollaon, running a finger along the bottom of one of the frames.

“No fathers pictured, though.  Unimportant people?”

“Unneeded,” answered Gollaon.  “The ruling line is only mother and daughters.”

“How does that work?”

Parthenogenesis Amulet

These amulets are made of ivory and gold and often decorated in repeating motifs, always of the finest detailed craftsmanship.  The source of the original amulet is lost to the mists of time, but the Empress was so charmed when she rediscovered it that she had a hundred and one of them commissioned and distributed throughout the Imperium.

Dark Future Ahead 21 – News from the ‘Net of a Cyberpunk bent

Searching the net for weird and wonderful ideas and inspiration for cyberpunk gaming:

Rockers and music are, or at least should be, an important part of cyberpunk, here are some crazy ways various bands have released music that are bizarre or collectable, usually both.  Recovering and freeing the only copy of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin to release into the infostream sounds like a great adventure to me.

Is your sex toy spying on you?  Could you ask for a better cyberpunk headline?

Solar powered skin for your cyberlimb!  Because, it turns out, you need a way to power all those sensors in the new skin.

Cory Doctorow talks about How can we make technology that frees us, rather than enslaves us?  And how our current laws make criminals out of people just trying to use and improve the things they own.

Need to contain a riot?  Bozena of Slovokia has the vehicle for you!  The remotely operated Bozena Riot deploy an mobile armored screen complete with water cannon, cameras and loudspeakers to deal with any riot!  Just do not lose control of it.

Photo from the Bozena corporate site and used without permission.

And for a more friendly robot, Marble is testing out food delivery robots (though drone would work as well) in San Francisco.  You can read more of their plans at the Marble corporate site.

What visions of the coming dark future have you seen recently?

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Tuesday Magic Item – Gelert’s Shield

“The Commander’s new bodyguard did sterling work during the battle,” said Voddick.  “Without him things would have gone badly.  I saw him catch a spear that would have skewered the Commander on his shield.”

“You are among the few who noticed,” replied Gollaon pouring himself some wine.  “Not only in the bearer a selfless warrior but the shield itself make it harder to recognize their heroism.”

“How odd,” Voddick said before taking a swallow of ale.

“It is said that the court magician that build the first of these shields was jealous of the bodyguard and insured that they would never get the recognition they deserved.”

“Typical.”

Gelert’s Shield

These shields are solidly built and usually decorated with the arms or symbols of the patron who ordered it made.  They were custom fitted to their original user and would have fitted them comfortably.

Gelert’s Shield is a +3 Heavy Shield that can share its shield’s bonus with one adjacent ally against one attack per turn or against all attacks if the wielder possesses three or more Shield feats.  Up to thrice a day, the shield’s wielder can take half the damage from an attack (including magical attacks) that targets an adjacent ally.

Tuesday Magic Item – Naming Love Poem

Gollaon watched their charge from around the corner speaking to the one who had caught their eye, being careful not to be seen by either.

“Foolishness, it is,” quietly grumbled Voddick.  “We should have kept safely locked in the inn.  Where trouble would have to find us, not the other way around.”

“You have not a single romantic bone in your body, my friend,” replied Gollaon with a smile.  “Let young love run free.”

“As long as it does not run us into trouble, I will be happy.”

Naming Love Poem

This poem is a form of ritual magic, the poem itself has become so well known that it has acquired its own magic.  To activate its magic, the person who wishes to confess their love must copy the poem by hand or recite it in front of at least six witnesses.  They must either have a token of the person they wish to confess their love to, a lock of hair is preferred, or name them at the end of the poem.  The whole process cannot take less than two minutes and usually takes more, especially if the poem is being copied.

Now it is April, March is Away

April began yesterday, various reasons prevented me from posting then, for that, my apologies.  The origin of the name of the Roman month Aprilis is unclear, it may refer to the opening (aperire) of buds and flowers as Spring arrives or in some way to the goddess Venus, to whom it is a sacred month.

If you have suggestions for a theme for this month please let me know.

March, 2017, saw the following posts here: